Dreaming of an Androgynous Future By: Julie Tippey

Dreaming of an Androgynous Future

By: Julie Tippey

Face It!

There’s just no denying it, when you walk into a store, and I mean any store, you’re immediately faced with the decision of turning left or turning right. Choosing women’s clothes or men’s clothes. But what if you want both, or neither?

Too many times I have been faced with the sideways glances and furrowed eyebrows of sales clerks as I ask for a dressing room with an armful of traditionally male clothing. Perhaps they imagine I am shopping for someone else, or perhaps I’m just in a play? Whatever they think, it probably has nothing to do with the idea that I believe in androgyny.

What’s Androgyny?

Androgyny is a term meaning to not project an appearance that is specifically male or female; to be non-conforming to the either/or mentality of the two part gender system.  

For the purposes of this article I will mainly be addressing the idea that clothing can specifically project a gender. Traditionally garments like dresses and skirts are more feminine in nature and one must adhere to a strict life of femininity to have the privilege to wear a skirt, while suits and ties tend to be specifically for the masculine.

But Why Be Androgynous?

First of all, many individuals who consider themselves non-gender conforming or queer, may choose androgyny for their outward appearance because they do not fit easily or wholly into either the masculine or feminine categories and instead choose aspects from these traditional gender roles to create their own personal identity, somewhere in the middle of the spectrum.

Secondly, and in some ways connected to the first, some people, especially children and young adults who have not yet reached a decision as to what their gender expression will be, may continually traverse the boundaries of gender, swaying back and forth between masculine and feminine. Therefore they would choose that this decision making process, as it can be difficult, be kept to themselves and therefore not expressed outwardly through appearance.

Thirdly, some, like myself, simply find that while they may fit in to one of the traditional categories of gender in terms of body and sexuality, they may find that the current clothing or beauty standards for that gender are something that they do not agree with or wish to conform to.

So What?

Unfortunately when anyone goes shopping, whether it be in the mall, a boutique or on the internet, they are faced with the decision, Male or Female? Stores are divided right down the middle, with one type of clothing on each side and an unspoken middle line over which we must not cross; and when shopping online, the first word we see when describing an item is a gender. Everywhere you look, inanimate and genderless objects are being seen as gendered (Tell me you haven’t heard a man heckled because he’s drinking ‘girly coffee’). But I believe that the world has pushed us too far. In today’s society of heightened visibility, the public is more aware and perhaps even knowledgeable about the different expressions of gender and sexuality than ever before. Why then must we be content with shopping at stores that perpetuate the old-fashioned two gender system?

What’s Next?

Recently there has been a push throughout the fashion world for a trend in ‘menswear’ which allows those who are more feminine to experiment with the traditional male clothing. These garments include suits, ties, oxford shoes, and blazers. Yet it still remains that if a male were to step out in a dress or skirt, they would not be looked on as a fashion icon, but something to be ridiculed.

The world of internet shopping is vast and through it buyers and sellers who are interested in the androgynous clothing market are creating a market for such clothing.

In the future I see not only a market for androgynous clothing but an economy from it. This economy would be made up of stores that don’t force individuals to fit themselves inside a box; Stores that are gender fluid, stocking the black dresses, next to the black boxer shorts.

Why It Matters

With the influx of retailers specializing in androgynous clothing, it is safe to say that the world is moving in the right direction. Obviously we have a long way to go and many more issues to bridge, but by doing away with gender boundaries that are prevalent in every aspect of our lives, it will not only make it easier for people who are experiencing gender confusion to make it through a mall without tearing out their hair, but will help our world continue to learn about and accept different expressions of gender.

Ultimately, tearing down the boundary line that separates the two genders and allowing them to come together and become muddled will in the long run lead to better planet. A planet that is accepting and supportive of all its citizens, regardless of any of the facets of their gender or sexuality.

Where to Shop!!

Now for the fun part! The world of Androgynous fashion is small but growing, but here are a few suggestions to get you started:

Thrift shops

Duh. With a world of vintage markets, you can create a completely new androgynous wardrobe for the same price as a single button-down shirt at the other sites on this list. But be sure to educate yourself on just where your money is going, as some chain well intended second hand stores use your money to support a platform of hate and conformity *cough*cough* Salvation Army *cough*cough*

WearAndrogyny.com

This site specifically sells button down shirts that fit a variety of body shapes, without darting or seams that draw attention to the bust line. Although it is stated in the mission statement that the line is ‘menswear for women’, an idea that while forward thinking is still slightly problematic.

TheOriginalTomboy.com

Created with a southern vintage style in mind, this moderately affordable line presents an androgynous view aimed at males, females and variations thereupon. This store is a good step in the right direction.

Stuff you need to know to read this issue:

Androgyny

 (Merriam-Webster)

1 : having the characteristics or nature of both male and female

2a : neither specifically feminine nor masculine <the androgynous pronoun them>

b :  suitable to or for either sex <androgynous clothing>

3 : having traditional male and female roles obscured or reversed <an androgynous marriage>

Two-Gender System

          The two gender system consists of the ‘traditional’ male and female binary. This means that every individual fits neatly into one or the other of these categories wholly and completely. This is an outdated system.

Queer

 (International Spectrum Online)

Used as an umbrella identity term encompassing lesbian, questioning people, gay men, bisexuals, non-labeling people, transgender folks, and anyone else who does not strictly identify as heterosexual. “Queer” originated as a derogatory word. Currently, it is being reclaimed by some people and used as a statement of empowerment. Some people identify as “queer” to distance themselves from the rigid categorization of “straight” and “gay”. Some transgender, lesbian, gay, questioning, non-labeling, and bisexual people, however, reject the use of this term due to its connotations of deviance and its tendency to gloss over and sometimes deny the differences between these groups.

Cisgender

 (International Spectrum Online)

A person whose gender identity and expression matches the gender typically associated with their biological sex. For example: a female who identifies as a woman.

Gender Expression

(International Spectrum Online)

Refers to the ways in which people externally communicate their gender identity to others through behavior, clothing, hairstyle, voice and emphasizing, de-emphasizing or changing their body’s characteristics. Gender expression is not necessarily an indication of sexual orientation.

Evolution of a Hissy Fit By: Kelsey R. Price

Evolution of a Hissy Fit

By: Kelsey R. Price

From a grumble to a yell,

From a child to a woman,

A common protest evolved.

And while its outcome was never certain,

Its right to exist was always assured.

For sometimes, that is the only way to be heard;

Either as a lone, strong voice in a crowd

Or as a crowd opposing a single, ardent message.

The Pronoun Problem By Becky Stowe

The Pronoun Problem

By: Becky Stowe

With the growing interest in transgender rights in the American political sphere, American citizens (slowly, as per usual) are becoming more informed about transgender issues and even accepting of the idea that gender is a spectrum and not just a binary (either/or) system.  Among the transgender issues we’re becoming increasingly aware of is the need for a gender-neutral pronoun in the English vernacular. This has been a topic of concern in the LGBTQA community for a long while, but with the new burst of transgender visibility in the media this topic is starting to get a lot more mainstream attention.
            So for those of you that aren’t English major nerds like myself, gender-neutral third-person pronoun are pronouns to use when someone’s gender is unknown OR when the individual does not identify as either male or female. The individual being addressed could be transgender or genderqueer (a catch-all term for those who don’t identify as either male or female).
English traditionally has three singular pronouns: “he”, “she” and “it”. “He” and “She” are obviously gendered while “It” tends to refer to something that is inanimate like a book or an idea and for that reason (along with several others that have to do with the icky connotation of calling a person ‘it’ as a way to assert a misogynistic power imbalance. But I digress) another option must be found. What’s the point of having gendered pronouns? There really isn’t one. If you think about it, the only real purpose that grammatical gender serves is the occasional clear up some ambiguity. ¾ of the world’s languages seem to be managing fine without gendering their pronouns, However for those individuals already struggling with their gender identity, our binary system of he or she pronouns serves as a regular reminder of their mainstream exclusion, and that’s just not what our language should be used for. While we’re on this topic, now is a great time for a Gendered Pronoun Public Service Announcement: NEVER ASSUME A PERSON’S PRONOUN BASED ON THEIR APPEARANCE! *clears throat* Thank you. At any rate, “He,” “she,” and “it” are pronouns that only take us English speakers so far. And I don’t know about you but I’m not about to start referring any person as an “it” because quite frankly my dear that’s dehumanizing.
There was a time when English had a gender-neutral pronoun, in Old English-[HOLD UP! Just need to clarify something because this is a big English Major Pet Peeve of mine: Old English is NOT the version of English that Shakespeare spoke. That was Early Modern English. Old English was waaaaaay before that; I’m talking about centuries in their pre-teens. Carry on.] there was a gender neutral pronoun, “hit” (pronounced as it’s spelled for us Modern English speaker). I hardly need to explain why it would be problematic to incorporate that word into present-day vocabulary.
Some have offered up “ze” as an alternative, but some argue that it sounds to much like “he” (as if “she” doesn’t already sound similar… Not to mention that we’d all sound like we were doing really bad French impersonations. Moving on!). Students in Baltimore apparently use the word “yo”, but if using that pronoun constantly didn’t make us all sound like Jesse Pinkman, I don’t know what would (Yeah, bitch!). There have been dozens more offered but the current front runner in the gender-neutral pronoun race is “they”.

So what to use? There are a lot of choices. What it should come down to is what the person you’re speaking to or referring to prefers. Sure, you’ll make a mistake here or there, but as long as you own up to these mistakes, correct yourself and make it clear you want to be respectful, that makes all the difference in the world.